Suction cleaner



J. R. HARRIS I K 2,079,405

SUCTION CLEANER May 4, 1937.

Original Filed Jan. 26, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l lll May 4, 1937 J. R. HARRIS 2,079,405

SU CTION CLEANER Original Filed Jan. 26, 1935 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 (1)' nl i ./O' /J i L f muri lll )3 .iM-5ml llllllll f* i lll/V Hummm /5 I am?! 2/ sented May 4, 1937 PATENT OFFICE SUCTION CLEANER John R. Harris, Berwyn, Ill., assignor to Birtman Electric Company, Chicago, IIL, a corporation of Illinois Application January 26, 1935, Serial No. 3,631 Renewed March 5, 1937 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in suction cleaners and, more especially, portable suc-- tion cleaners.

My invention relates more particularly to that 5 type of cleaner having a vertically adjustable nozzle. It has been found that it is necessary or desirable to adjust the height of the nozzle of a cleaner of the type referred to in order to adaptl it to various kinds of surfaces to be l cleaned. For example, if working over a rather thick soft carpet, it may be desirable to raise the height of the nozzle, because on such a surface the wheels sink in so that the nozzle will contact too much with the surface of the carpet l if it is not raised. If working on a bare floor,

however, it is desirable to lower the nozzle.

It has been customary heretofore to provide means for adjusting the height of the nozzle of a cleaner but such means have ordinarily been provided on the carriage of the cleaner itself, so that the operator was required to stoop or bend overin order to operate the adjusting means.

Cleaners of the character in question are ordinarily provided with pivoted handles. It has been found that a pivoted handle is much more serviceable than a fixed handle. One of the features of my inventiony is to locate the nozzleadjusting means on the handle in such a way that `said means does not affect the swinging of the handle on its pivot. Besides this, the construction is so made that the swinging of the handle on its pivot does not affect said adjusting means. Among the features of my invention, therefore, it may bev stated` generally, is the provision of a suction cleaner with a pivoted handle anda vertically adjustable nozzle and means on 'the handle for adjusting the nozzle, said means not affecting or affected by swinging of the handle on its pivot. Other features and advantages of my inventionv will vappear more fully as I proceed with my specification. v

In that form of device embodying the features ofmy invention shown in the accompanying drawings- Figure l is a view in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a similar fragmentary view'on an enlarged scale; Fig3 is a bottom plan View; Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the end of the handle; and Fig. 5 isa sectional view of the lower end of the flexible .,shaft.

' As shown in the drawings, the cleaner comprises in general the usual carriage I0 provided with two front wheels II, II; the motor I2; the two back wheels I3; and the nozzle I4 in front of the front wheels. I5 indicates the handle provided with a bail I6 pivoted to the carriage at I 1, I l.

Since the nozzle I4 is in front of the front wheels Il, it will be seen that by raising or low- 5 ering the back wheels I3, the carriage will pivot on the front wheels to raise or lower the nozzle I4 with respect to the supporting surface I8.

To permit raising and lowering of the back wheels I3, they are mounted on a frame 20 l0 pivoted at 2|, 2 I. This frame is provided with a plate 22 having a hole 23 in which is inserted the lower end of an adjusting screw 24, said screw having a head 241 at the end so that the lower end of the screw will be locked in the hole. l5 The hole is in the shape of a keyhole having an enlarged portion 23 for assembly purposes.

In operative position, the end of the adjusting screw lies in the slot of the hole. The screw 24 is threaded in the member 26 carried by the 20 carriage I0. It will be seen that by screwing the member 24 upwardly or downwardly, the back wheels I3 are raised or lowered by pivoting the frame on the axes 2 I, 2|. Raising the wheels I3 lowers the portion of the carriage back of 25 the front wheels I I to raise the nozzle and lowering the back wheels I3 will lower the nozzle I4.

For the purpose of operating the screw 24, the same is attached to a flexible shaft 3|! lying in a exible casing 3 I, both the shaft and the casing 80 extending through the hollow handle I5 to the upper end where the casing is supported by the member 32 and the shaft is connected to the rotatable manually operable adjusting knob 35.

It will be seen that rotation of the knob 35 35 will be transmitted through the flexible shaft to the adjusting screw. 24 to raise or lower the back wheels I3 to raise or lower the nozzle I4. By means of the flexible shaft connection between the knob 35 and the adjusting screw 24, 40 pivoting-of the handle I5 is not affected by the vertical adjustment of the nozzle, and vertical adjustment of the nozzle does not affect pivoting of the handle.: I

It will be seen also that the pitch of the threads 45 of the screw 24 is so gradual that the operation is substantially irreversible. That is, the nozzle will always be locked in its adjusted position.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood 50 that it is capable of many modications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed 1n the appended claims, in which it is my 55 intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

The pitch of the threads on the screw such that the action is irreversible. nozzle will stay in its adjusted position.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A suction cleaner, including; a carriage with a nozzle vertically adjustable with respect to the surface being cleaned; nozzle-adjusting means on the carriage including a vertically a'djustable wheel; screw means on the carriage for vertically adjusting said wheel; manually operable means on the handle; and a flexible shaft connecting said manually operable means and said screw means.

2. A suction cleaner, including; a handle; a carriage with a nozzle vertically adjustable with That is, thevr justing means including a vertically adjustable wheel; irreversible means for vertically adjusting said wheel; manually operable means on the handle; and rotatable exible shaft connecting said manually operable means and said wheel adjusting means, whereby the wheel may be adjusted by rotation of said shaft.

JOHN R. HARRIS. 

